SEPT emergency relief for Beirut
Donation protected
On Tuesday, the 4th of August 2020, a massive explosion at the Beirut port hit the city. The blast that was felt all over Lebanon left in its wake over a hundred deceased, around 5000 injured so far and 300,000 displaced with homes becoming a real security threat from a structural and general safety standpoint.
Countless rescue efforts are on the ground to consolidate the relief effort of every emergency response team, and every community action and initiative during this difficult tragedy. And while work is underway, the challenges are mounting up, especially in the absence of proper infrastructure and continuously available electrical supply.
We at SEPT, a Lebanese NGO, since its inception in 2011, have followed a community approach to our projects, and today more than ever, this community needs to come together as one to give some hope and safety back to our citizens.
Our scope aims at temporarily rehabilitating homes that have been partially damaged by the explosion to secure them by temporarily fixing doors and windows to prevent any sort of elemental penetration, from potential theft, leaky pipes, fall damage and other essential efforts to secure these homes and make the safe return of their residents safer.
With over 300,000 displaced victims from the blast, progress is slow, and hindered by the absence of any major support and is relying on personal initiatives, progress is further exacerbated by the absence of infrastructure and working supplies inside homes, particularly the absence of power for tools, elevators and lights.
This is crucial as all current actions are citizen-based, while security agencies are focusing on rescue and investigation efforts, as time is of the essence, the need to improve the work of these initiatives is paramount.
Having a team of committed volunteers, from SEPT volunteers, friends of SEPT, and partner NGOs, that are fully engaged and prepared to aid in the rehabilitation of homes that may yet be salvageable to a certain extent, in parallel to assisting firefighting efforts in rescuing victims from under the rubble, especially as the shortage of equipment is evident, and extra time is indispensable in such a catastrophic situation.
These temporary repairs involve but aren’t limited to: patching windows, doors, frames, gas lines, plumbing, clearing rubble and major debris, and more.
We have to take into account two main challenges that we need help to overcome:
- The lack of electricity
- The lack of cordless power and specialized tools and equipment
- The lack of utilities and materials (plastic, plywood, duct tape, wheelbarrows, sorting bags…)
- The lack of safety equipment
We’ve decided to set up this fundraiser to crowdfund an array of battery powered power tools, with extra batteries, such as angle grinders, drills, SDS drills, saws, and replaceable parts like drill bits, grinding discs etc… as well as battery lighting systems particularly in hidden areas and as rescue efforts continue around the clock and through the night; additionally, small power generators to keep battery packs running, or running tools that are already available.
SEPT is a registered NGO with a proven track record with its approach and projects; moreover, SEPT is continuously audited externally to maintain the same credibility that it has among civil society organizations.
Additionally, every purchased equipment will be inventoried and its beneficiaries, mandated to keep track of the relief effort. SEPT will be committed in its effort to be completely transparent as to what was done to the contributions and the beneficiaries.
Stay safe, stay strong.
Ghadi El Khoury
SEPT Project Manager – www.sept-ngo.org
Karen Bou Doumit
SEPT Project Coordinator – www.sept-ngo.org
Contact us directly through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SEPT.NGO
Countless rescue efforts are on the ground to consolidate the relief effort of every emergency response team, and every community action and initiative during this difficult tragedy. And while work is underway, the challenges are mounting up, especially in the absence of proper infrastructure and continuously available electrical supply.
We at SEPT, a Lebanese NGO, since its inception in 2011, have followed a community approach to our projects, and today more than ever, this community needs to come together as one to give some hope and safety back to our citizens.
Our scope aims at temporarily rehabilitating homes that have been partially damaged by the explosion to secure them by temporarily fixing doors and windows to prevent any sort of elemental penetration, from potential theft, leaky pipes, fall damage and other essential efforts to secure these homes and make the safe return of their residents safer.
With over 300,000 displaced victims from the blast, progress is slow, and hindered by the absence of any major support and is relying on personal initiatives, progress is further exacerbated by the absence of infrastructure and working supplies inside homes, particularly the absence of power for tools, elevators and lights.
This is crucial as all current actions are citizen-based, while security agencies are focusing on rescue and investigation efforts, as time is of the essence, the need to improve the work of these initiatives is paramount.
Having a team of committed volunteers, from SEPT volunteers, friends of SEPT, and partner NGOs, that are fully engaged and prepared to aid in the rehabilitation of homes that may yet be salvageable to a certain extent, in parallel to assisting firefighting efforts in rescuing victims from under the rubble, especially as the shortage of equipment is evident, and extra time is indispensable in such a catastrophic situation.
These temporary repairs involve but aren’t limited to: patching windows, doors, frames, gas lines, plumbing, clearing rubble and major debris, and more.
We have to take into account two main challenges that we need help to overcome:
- The lack of electricity
- The lack of cordless power and specialized tools and equipment
- The lack of utilities and materials (plastic, plywood, duct tape, wheelbarrows, sorting bags…)
- The lack of safety equipment
We’ve decided to set up this fundraiser to crowdfund an array of battery powered power tools, with extra batteries, such as angle grinders, drills, SDS drills, saws, and replaceable parts like drill bits, grinding discs etc… as well as battery lighting systems particularly in hidden areas and as rescue efforts continue around the clock and through the night; additionally, small power generators to keep battery packs running, or running tools that are already available.
SEPT is a registered NGO with a proven track record with its approach and projects; moreover, SEPT is continuously audited externally to maintain the same credibility that it has among civil society organizations.
Additionally, every purchased equipment will be inventoried and its beneficiaries, mandated to keep track of the relief effort. SEPT will be committed in its effort to be completely transparent as to what was done to the contributions and the beneficiaries.
Stay safe, stay strong.
Ghadi El Khoury
SEPT Project Manager – www.sept-ngo.org
Karen Bou Doumit
SEPT Project Coordinator – www.sept-ngo.org
Contact us directly through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SEPT.NGO
Fundraising team: SEPT (2)
Ghadi El Khoury
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
Pierre El Haddad
Beneficiary
Andre Mahfouz
Team member